Declassified videos show the horrifying power of nuclear bombs. Here's how they would destroy S.A.

Updated 1:52 pm, Monday, March 20, 2017

A declassified video that shows a high-atmosphere test explosion by the U.S. government.

Media: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Newly declassified, 70-year-old footage of nuclear weapons tests was released last week showing a number of experiments carried out by the U.S. government.

Between 1945 and 1962, the U.S. performed 210 atmospheric nuclear tests, according to a Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory news release, and now, 64 tapes have been released to the public and posted on YouTube.

Greg Spriggs, a physicist for LLNL, was key part of the film recovery crew, and had some unique insight into what the footage shows.

Three bombs included in the footage were called Nutmeg, Tesla and Rushmore. Spriggs said if one of those bombs were to explode in San Antonio, they would destroy an area equivalent to the roughly 3 miles from the Alamo to Brackenridge Park.

Click through to see the simulated destructive power of this bomb and more around San Antonio.

Click through to see the simulated destructive power of this bomb and more around San Antonio.

Photo: Courtesy

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Tower of the Americas

This is what the "Davy Crockett," the tiniest U.S. bomb produced, would look like dropped on the Tower of the Americas. The bomb's payload is 20 tons, which sounds big but is only a small fraction the power of the biggest bomb on this list. The green circle represents the area affected by radiation. less

Tower of the Americas

This is what the "Davy Crockett," the tiniest U.S. bomb produced, would look like dropped on the Tower of the Americas. The bomb's payload is 20 tons, which sounds big but is only a small ... more

In 2006 North Korea tested a 500-ton weapon that could decimate the Brackenridge Park area with the air blast alone (grey), and even more people would be affected by radiation (green, orange).

Brackenridge Park

In 2006 North Korea tested a 500-ton weapon that could decimate the Brackenridge Park area with the air blast alone (grey), and even more people would be affected by radiation (green, orange).

Photo: Nukemap By Alex Wellerstein

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South Side Lions Park

A North Korean weapon tested in 2009 carried a payload of 6 kilotons and would likely destroy all the homes in the South Side Lions Parks area (grey). The entire area around Pecan Valley Drive from 87 to Southcross Blvd would be enveloped in radiation (green, orange). less

South Side Lions Park

A North Korean weapon tested in 2009 carried a payload of 6 kilotons and would likely destroy all the homes in the South Side Lions Parks area (grey). The entire area around Pecan Valley ... more

Photo: Nukemap By Alex Wellerstein

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FILE - In this April 5, 2009 image made from KRT video, a rocket is lifted off from its launch pad in Musudan-ri, North Korea.

FILE - In this April 5, 2009 image made from KRT video, a rocket is lifted off from its launch pad in Musudan-ri, North Korea.

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Pearsall Park

A North Korean weapon tested in 2013 carried a payload of 10 kilotons and would likely be powerful enough to destroy much of the Pearsall Park area, enveloping neighborhoods in radiation.

Pearsall Park

A North Korean weapon tested in 2013 carried a payload of 10 kilotons and would likely be powerful enough to destroy much of the Pearsall Park area, enveloping neighborhoods in radiation.

Photo: Nukemap By Alex Wellerstein

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East Side

In August 1945, the bomb known as "Little Boy," which carried a 15 kiloton payload, was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan. This bomb detonated on the East Side would likely destroy every home and leave the area in a cloud of radiation. The Alamodome would likely sustain heavy damage. less

East Side

In August 1945, the bomb known as "Little Boy," which carried a 15 kiloton payload, was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan. This bomb detonated on the East Side would likely destroy every home and leave the ... more

Photo: Nukemap By Alex Wellerstein

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Lackland Air Force Base

Only days before "Little Boy," the U.S. dropped the bomb known as "Fat Man," which carried a 20 kiloton payload, on Nagasaki, Japan. If that bomb hit Lackland Air Force Base, it would likely destroy the entire area with its high pressure air blast radius (red). A lower pressure air blast (grey) would knock down or heavily damage other buildings in the area. less

Lackland Air Force Base

Only days before "Little Boy," the U.S. dropped the bomb known as "Fat Man," which carried a 20 kiloton payload, on Nagasaki, Japan. If that bomb hit Lackland Air Force Base, it would ... more

Photo: Nukemap By Alex Wellerstein

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Fort Sam Houston, Terrell Hills

The largest Pakistani weapon tested, which carries a payload of 45 kilotons, would likely destroy much of Fort Sam Houston and Terrell Hills with the air blast (grey) and would leave a huge radiation cloud. less

Fort Sam Houston, Terrell Hills

The largest Pakistani weapon tested, which carries a payload of 45 kilotons, would likely destroy much of Fort Sam Houston and Terrell Hills with the air blast (grey) and would ... more

Photo: Nukemap By Alex Wellerstein

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In this photo released by Interservices Public Relations department shows a test launching of Pakistan-made Hatf IV Shaheen-1A missile at undisclosed location in Pakistan on Wednesday, April 25, 2012. Pakistan successfully launched an upgraded ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead Wednesday, days after its neighbor and archenemy India conducted its own missile test, the Pakistani military said. less

In this photo released by Interservices Public Relations department shows a test launching of Pakistan-made Hatf IV Shaheen-1A missile at undisclosed location in Pakistan on Wednesday, April 25, 2012. Pakistan ... more

Photo: AP

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Airport, McAllister Park, Uptown

The largest weapon that India has tested, which carries a payload of 60 kilotons, would affect the airport and much of the Uptown area around it. The air blast (grey) would likely destroy the airport and neighborhoods around it and radiation(orange) would nearly reach Thousand Oaks Drive. less

Airport, McAllister Park, Uptown

The largest weapon that India has tested, which carries a payload of 60 kilotons, would affect the airport and much of the Uptown area around it. The air blast (grey) would ... more

Photo: Nukemap By Alex Wellerstein

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This photograph released by the Indian Ministry of Defense shows Indias Agni-V missile, with a range of 5,000 kilometers (3,100 miles), being launched from Wheeler Island off India's east coast, Thursday, April 19, 2012. India announced the successful test launch Thursday of the new nuclear-capable missile that would give it the capability of striking the major Chinese cities of Beijing and Shanghai for the first time. less

This photograph released by the Indian Ministry of Defense shows Indias Agni-V missile, with a range of 5,000 kilometers (3,100 miles), being launched from Wheeler Island off India's east coast, Thursday, ... more

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Stone Oak

This is the W-76, a 100-kiloton bomb common in U.S. and U.K. arsenals, detonated in the Stone Oak area. The air blast radius (grey) would likely destroy nearly every house in the area and thermal radiation (orange) would reach down to 1604 and out past 281. less

Stone Oak

This is the W-76, a 100-kiloton bomb common in U.S. and U.K. arsenals, detonated in the Stone Oak area. The air blast radius (grey) would likely destroy nearly every house in the area and thermal ... more

Photo: Nukemap By Alex Wellerstein

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Stone Oak

Same Stone Oak location but this time a slightly larger weapon. This is the W-80, a 150-kiloton cruise missile currently in the U.S. arsenal, which has a slightly larger thermal radiation reach (orange). less

Stone Oak

Same Stone Oak location but this time a slightly larger weapon. This is the W-80, a 150-kiloton cruise missile currently in the U.S. arsenal, which has a slightly larger thermal radiation reach ... more

Photo: Nukemap By Alex Wellerstein

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Northeast Side

The W-87, a 300 kiloton bomb that is currently in the U.S. arsenal, would affect the entire Northeast Side if detonated on Universal City.

Northeast Side

The W-87, a 300 kiloton bomb that is currently in the U.S. arsenal, would affect the entire Northeast Side if detonated on Universal City.

The B-61, which carries a 340 kiloton payload and is currently in the U.S. arsenal, would destroy much of Camp Bullis with the air blast (grey). The thermal radiation would reach out to Fair Oaks Ranch and over to Stone Oak (orange). less

Camp Bullis

The B-61, which carries a 340 kiloton payload and is currently in the U.S. arsenal, would destroy much of Camp Bullis with the air blast (grey). The thermal radiation would reach out to Fair Oaks ... more

Photo: Nukemap By Alex Wellerstein

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South Side

The W-78, a 350 kiloton U.S. weapon, would likely heavily damage or destroy San Antonio's entire South Side.

South Side

The W-78, a 350 kiloton U.S. weapon, would likely heavily damage or destroy San Antonio's entire South Side.

Photo: Nukemap By Alex Wellerstein

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West Side

The W-88 Trident D5 warhead, if detonated at 151 and Old Hwy 90, would take out virtually all of the West Side, with thermal radiation reaching up to Balcones Heights and into downtown. This bomb carries a 455 kiloton payload. less

West Side

The W-88 Trident D5 warhead, if detonated at 151 and Old Hwy 90, would take out virtually all of the West Side, with thermal radiation reaching up to Balcones Heights and into downtown. This bomb ... more

Photo: Nukemap By Alex Wellerstein

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Downtown to 410

The Russian Topol, which carries an 800 kiloton payload, would knock down most buildings in the downtown area. The thermal radiation from the blast would reach out to 410.

Downtown to 410

The Russian Topol, which carries an 800 kiloton payload, would knock down most buildings in the downtown area. The thermal radiation from the blast would reach out to 410.

Photo: Nukemap By Alex Wellerstein

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Downtown to outside 410

This is the B-83, the 1.2 megaton bomb that is the biggest in the U.S. arsenal. The grey area, the air blast radius, would knock down most residential buildings and would likely destroy much of downtown. The thermal radiation would affect those out to Loop 410. less

Downtown to outside 410

This is the B-83, the 1.2 megaton bomb that is the biggest in the U.S. arsenal. The grey area, the air blast radius, would knock down most residential buildings and would likely destroy ... more

Photo: Nukemap By Alex Wellerstein

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Downtown to outside 1604

The first H-Bomb, which was known as "Ivy Mike" and carried a 10.4 megaton payload, would have a massive impact on the San Antonio area extending outside of 1604. Check out how big the red high-pressure air blast is. less

Downtown to outside 1604

The first H-Bomb, which was known as "Ivy Mike" and carried a 10.4 megaton payload, would have a massive impact on the San Antonio area extending outside of 1604. Check out how big the ... more

Photo: Nukemap By Alex Wellerstein

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FILE - The first hydrogen bomb is tested in 1952 on an atoll in the Pacific.

FILE - The first hydrogen bomb is tested in 1952 on an atoll in the Pacific.

Photo: USAF

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Hill Country

This is the Castle Bravo, the largest U.S. bomb tested at 15 megatons. While the red and grey air blast would destroy buildings, its thermal radiation radius (orange) would swarm the entire Hill Country. less

Hill Country

This is the Castle Bravo, the largest U.S. bomb tested at 15 megatons. While the red and grey air blast would destroy buildings, its thermal radiation radius (orange) would swarm the entire Hill ... more

Photo: Nukemap By Alex Wellerstein

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Central Texas, I-35 corridor

This is the largest USSR bomb tested, the 50 megaton Tsar Bomba, if detonated between San Marcos and New Braunfels, would spread thermal radiation throughout Central Texas from San Antonio to Austin. less

Central Texas, I-35 corridor

This is the largest USSR bomb tested, the 50 megaton Tsar Bomba, if detonated between San Marcos and New Braunfels, would spread thermal radiation throughout Central Texas from San ... more

Photo: Nukemap By Alex Wellerstein

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A model of a russian h-bomb, the most powerful in the world, displayed at the nuclear weapons museum in chelyabinsk, the bomb was tested 1961, 1991.

A model of a russian h-bomb, the most powerful in the world, displayed at the nuclear weapons museum in chelyabinsk, the bomb was tested 1961, 1991.

Declassified videos show the horrifying power of nuclear bombs. Here's how they would destroy S.A.

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He said the Tesla explosion had a yield of 7 kilotons and Rushmore had one of 0.2 kilotons.

The largest explosion was the Nutmeg, which had a payload of 25 kilotons. The bomb dropped on Nagasaki, Japan in August 1945, known as "Fat Man," had a 20 kiloton payload and would have destroyed an area about equivalent to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, news archives show.

Spriggs, who made it his mission over the past five years to recover thousands of films showing the nuclear tests, said the original films decompose as they age.

"To date, the team has located around 6,500 of the estimated 10,000 films created during atmospheric testing. Around 4,200 films have been scanned, 400 to 500 have been reanalyzed and around 750 have been declassified," according to the release.